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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Christ_empowered on January 27, 2014, at 3:35:48
I used to reject this diagnosis because I thought the whole thing was BS. I was thinking...either uber-Bipolar or moody schizophrenia. Don't create a diagnosis out of nowhere, please.Now, I've been doing a short googling of what I can get on the diagnosis, and it seems...
...the moodier you are, the better response to treatment. So, if I have schizoaffective, it'd be Bipolar/Manic type. That would explain a robust response to fairly standard meds.
The old school Orthomolecular docs (you know how I love them) liked schizoaffective patients. Apparently, they/we respond nicely to treatment. I don't know why they'd like SA patients' (due to response) over BPD patients, as was suggested in one article I read, but I'm sure they have their reasons. My best, wild guess is that the stuff that OM docs were in to--low(ish) dose neuroleptics, managing mood and anxiety, high dose supplements--would be particularly helpful for SA and BPD patients, although treatment for BPD depression might still be tricky, especially since OM docs tended to use old, cheap meds whenever possible (TCA=higher rate of switching, I'm guessing).
Blah blah blah...anyway, I just don't quite see the difference between bipolar I w/ heavy psychotic symptoms and schizoaffective, manic type except that SA would have a worse prognosis (but better than schizophrenia, or schizoaffective depressed type).As for me...I'll just stay on the Trileptal. It does help. The downside is that it play with other meds. When and if I get that Tofranil-PM filled, it'll boost blood levels a bit, which is worrisome since I'm starting at 150mgs/day (I don't really know WHY the starting dose is that high).
SA would explain my agitation...then again, my doc (until recently) swore up and down it was bipolar I with agitation and psychosis as part of the picture. 6 of 1, 1/2 dozen the other I guess, as long as treatment is correct.
blah blah blah...up early and rambling.
Posted by Phillipa on January 27, 2014, at 9:15:31
In reply to schizoaffective..., posted by Christ_empowered on January 27, 2014, at 3:35:48
3:37 am you posted this? That's just after lights out for me. Why awake so early? Can you not sleep? Or don't feel you need sleep? If so I think I'd lean toward bipolar? Phillipa
Posted by herpills on January 27, 2014, at 16:53:09
In reply to schizoaffective..., posted by Christ_empowered on January 27, 2014, at 3:35:48
My understanding is that with schizoaffective, you must have had at least a two week period of psychosis, but without being in a mood episode during that time.
Bipolar I with psychosis, there is always a mood episode going on with the psychosis.
Honestly, I wouldn't worry to much about these labels. And I know that YOU know that public mental health is all about diagnostic codes and medication formulary, and not much else...
So...
I would ask yourself, what are the main symptoms that are causing the most problems for you? Focus on the symptoms and work towards the right combo.
I will say that based on your recent posts, it seems like depression has been a big issue, but do you feel this is being addressed? It seems like you are on a lot of mood stabilizing meds that work more on bring you down to the center, but they don't always have enough "oomph" on the depression side of things.
Good luck and I know you'll be feeling even better soon! I'm glad ortho is helping to, keep me posted on if you feel the fish oil helps. I just upped my dose to 4g but too early to tell yet if it will help.
This is the end of the thread.
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